Overview
This 5-Day Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari takes you trekking through the enchanting misty jungle of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, home to more than half the World’s population of 1004 Mountain Gorillas. Gorilla trekking is the most enchanting experience in this forest that will leave you with memories of a lifetime. Bwindi Impenetrable Forest also offers a unique birding opportunity, cultural experience, and a scenic allure of stunning hills and lush vegetation inhabited by a wide variety of other wild primates.
The beautifully planned Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari will also take you to Kibale Forest National Park, the primate capital of the world and home to the highest concentration of primate species with 13 species recorded including the fancy Chimpanzee. You will trek the wild but habituated chimpanzees, watch colourful birds, have a walking safari in the Bigodi Swamp, and visit the crater lakes region to see the ancient extinguished craters that are now breathtaking landscapes of exclusive scenic beauty.
Safari Highlights
- Equator experience
- Western Uganda scenic road drive
- Uganda Gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Chimpanzee trekking in Kibale Forest
- A nature walk in Bigodi swamp
Detailed Safari Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Uganda
Upon arrival at Entebbe International Airport, you will be met by our safari guide from Nsheka African Adventures who will transfer you to Kampala to a hotel booked for you. In case you have had an early flight to Uganda, you will be taken on a brief tour of the city of Kampala.
Luxury Accommodation: Serena Hotel/ Imperial Hotel
Midrange Accommodation: Emin Pasha Hotel / Speke Resort Hotel / Cassia Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Forest Cottages/ Namirembe Guest house
Meal Plan: BB
Day 2: Travel to Bwindi Impenetrable National Park (490 Kms)
After an early breakfast, set off for your journey from Kampala and travel westwards to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park for approximately 9-10 hours. A scenic Uganda safari drive that will leave your pictorial memory full of wonders. Have a brief stop at the Equator for an opportunity for you to stand in two hemispheres at the same time and take some photographs. Continue the journey through the beautiful verdant rolling hills characteristic of this part of the country. You will have a lunch break in Mbarara town and then continue to Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park arriving late in the afternoon hours. Transfer to your lodge for Dinner and Overnight
Luxury Accommodation: Mahogany Lodge / Buhoma Lodge / Rushaga Gorilla Safari Lodge. Moderate: Gorilla Resort Bwindi /Gorilla Safari Lodge / Lake Mutanda Resort/ Gorilla Mist Camp.
Budget Accommodation: Buhoma community Rest camp / Ruhija Gorilla Friends Camp /
Gorilla Valley Lodge
Meal plan: Full Board Basis
Day 3: Gorilla trekking and cultural experience
After an early breakfast, our safari guide will drive you to the park headquarters where you will be briefed by the guides on the dos and don’ts of Gorilla trekking before you begin the trek into the thick Bwindi forest for the Mountain Gorillas. Although it is unpredictable how long you will trek before finding them, the thrill of getting to them and spending time with these gentle giants is an emotional and humbling experience that leaves you with memories of a lifetime!
Return to your lodge for a rest and later go for a cultural walk among the Batwa people who used to live in the Bwindi forest before it was gazetted as a National Park. You will learn about their life and culture as forest people and be amazed by the wealth of knowledge they have on native medicinal plants which they use to treat a wide array of human sicknesses. Alternatively, you will watch a skillful blacksmith as he manufactures local iron tools for use in everyday life the way it used to be done in the ancient days or witness the making of local beer. Your Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari cultural tour will be crowned with a traditional dance performance whose antics are fabulously entertaining. Return to the Lodge for Dinner and Overnight as above.
Meal plan: Full Board Basis
Day 4: Transfer to Kibale Forest National Park and Bigodi swamp walk
You will, after breakfast, head to Kibale Forest National Park arriving in the early afternoon. On the Drive to Kibale Forest National Park you will be able to enjoy an impressive sight of the legendary “Mountains of the Moon” which you will clearly see on the road to Fort Portal. You will have lunch in Fort Portal after which you will hit the road for the Kibale Forest National Park. Visit the unique Bigodi swamp eco-tourism site where you will see uncommon plants and rare bird species such as the Great Blue Turaco, little Bulbul, Rwenzori Turaco, and the Narina Trogon, among others.
Dinner and overnight will be at
Luxury Accommodation: Ndali Lodge / Primate Lodge / Kyaninga Lodge
Midrange Accommodation: Turaco treetops / Mountains of the Moon/Kibale Forest
Camp/Crater Safari Lodge
Budget Accommodation: Rwenzori Travellers Inn / Kibale Forest Camp / Chimpanzee Forest
Guest House
Meal plan: Full Board Basis
Day 5: Chimpanzee tracking and travel to Kampala
You will, after breakfast, head to Kibale Forest to view the primates. This Chimpanzee Trekking activity begin at 8.00 am with a briefing on the rules for trekking the chimpanzees after which you set off to search for them in the forest. The exercise takes half a day and along the way, you will see other primates such as Grey cheeked Mangabeys, Phoestes, RedColobus, and the Blue-tailed and Red-tailed monkeys swinging in the tree branches of this thick forest.
Your guide will give you informative briefings on the lifestyles of the primates you will be coming across and on the plants as well as on the insects and butterflies in this forest to ensure that the trek is not only informative but enjoyable as well. You will return to the lodge for lunch after which you will set off for Kampala arriving late in the afternoon. We will drop you off to your Hotel or Airport for your flight.
End of your Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari
The Gorillas and Chimpanzee Trekking Uganda Safari package includes:
- Accommodation as per the itinerary
- 4WD safari vehicle with popup roof
- Bottled drinking water
- Chimpanzee trekking permit in Kibale forest
- Gorilla trekking permit in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
- Services of an English English-speaking driver/guide.
- Community visit fees
- Guided nature walks
- Pickup and Return airport transfers.
The Safari package excludes expenses of a personal nature such as:
- Other drinks
- Laundry
- Tips to local guides
- Telephone expenses
- Porter fees while trekking Gorillas and chimpanzees
- Personal Insurance
- Cigarettes
